Drowning victim identified by police

Elkhart girl, 2, found by mother in Edwardsburg swimming pool.

Elkhart girl, 2, found by mother in Edwardsburg swimming pool.

September 05, 2007|Tribune Staff Report

EDWARDSBURG -- The 2-year-old who fell into a swimming pool and drowned near Edwardsburg on Monday has been identified as Serenity Owens. Ontwa Township-Edwardsburg Police Chief Kenneth Wray said the child and her mother, Pacia Long, of Elkhart, were visiting a residence in the 25000 block of Kenneth Avenue when the accident occurred about 6 p.m. Wray said Long was supervising Serenity and three other children, ages 6, 7 and 8, in the backyard when she began picking up toys and noticed Serenity was missing from the group. The police chief said she turned around and spotted the child in the pool. Wray said Long pulled the child from the water and ran to the house to call 911. Efforts to revive Serenity at the scene were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at Elkhart General Hospital. The police chief said Long estimated Serenity had been out of sight only two or three minutes. He said the accident is a reminder to parents to maintain a close watch on youngsters near water and to secure access to pools when adults aren't present.